SPRINGFIELD – The Memorial Building is getting a new look while retaining its rich history in downtown Springfield.

Springfield Drifters co-owner Ike Olsson purchased the building at 765 A Street in November and has spent the past few months turning it into a baseball academy run by the West Coast League club that is spending its fifth summer on field at Hamlin Sports Complex.

The building will retain its name and historical significance. A plaque honoring Springfield residents who served in World War II will stay in its same spot inside the building and the U.S. flag will continue to fly in the east lawn.

“There are about 70 names, including some sets of brothers, on that plaque and Springfield had a population of about 3,500 in the late 1940s, so that is a huge number,” Olsson said. “This building was built to honor those veterans.”

The Drifters Academy will take over the building that has been downtown for seven decades. It will offer baseball players and teams a place to practice while also housing the offices of the Drifters and Ole Athletics.

Storied history

The Memorial Building was owned by Willamalane Park and Recreation District for many years and used as a community center that hosted sporting events, conferences, and dances, among other events.

The Springfield Economic Development Agency purchased the building from Willamalane in 2021 and used it as an Egan Warming Center during winter months, but it sat empty during much of the year. The building was rundown when Olsson first looked at it, but its potential popped up when he met with Luke Emanuel, the owner and president of the WCL’s Marion Berries, who opened an academy last year.

“He told me, you’ve got to get that building and get teams in there,” Olsson recalled. “It felt like divine intervention.”

Olsson put in his offer to purchase the building the next day and closed on Nov. 24, 2025. He intends to open the academy this summer.

Expanding opportunities

The Drifters have their first travel team, an 11-Under squad, competing right now while a few others could soon take the field along with a couple 14-U teams. Eventually, the Drifters could sponsor up to 10 teams each year.

Coaches at the academy include Drifters coach Jeff Lyle and pitching coach Dean Stiles, along with Lane Community College assistant Jackson Bolender and Sam Olsson, a former University of Oregon catcher and current Sheldon assistant coach.

The building will likely be open from 4-9 p.m. during the school year with longer hours in the summer.

“I am focused on the impact this place will have on kids, the little guys wearing our stuff,” Olsson said. “I really think getting this done and slow-walking it, not being in a hurry, this is going to be a first-rate facility focused around those kids. If we get four U-12 teams for next travel season, I think we are doing well. If those kids are having a good experience and our coaches are teaching the right things, I think it will be one of those things where the cup will runneth over.”

The main entrance to the building will be on the east side and leads into the second floor of the building that includes a team room that will sell merchandise, including Drifters jerseys and hats. There will be offices for the Drifters Academy and Ole Athletics on that floor, as well as a weight room.

Most of that floor will be the main hitting facility, featuring three tunnels for hitters and pitchers. The hitting facility will be state-of-the-art, Olsson said, including Trackman and HitTrax software that shows exit velocity, spin rate, and more swing analysis tools.

A hitting facility catering to younger kids is downstairs and the Drifters offices and conference rooms are located on the top floor.

The cost to use the facility will be $160 per month for members and initially the focus will be on having teams from around the area use the facility.

Bushnell University and Lane Community College are also expected to use the hitting facility.

“We are going to encourage groups at the start because it can become a scheduling nightmare trying to schedule individuals by the hour,” Olsson said.

In addition to the Marion Berries, located in Salem, other WCL teams that have academies are in Bend, Bellingham, and Ridgefield.